Moonshots

Diamandis published a launch trailer on September 22, 2022, describing an ambition to convene problem-solvers. Originally called Moonshots and Mindsets, the program subsequently adopted Moonshots with Peter Diamandis. The Apple Podcasts trailer announced an October 6 launch, while the official archive dates the Elon Musk episode to October 4.⁠[3][4][1]

The early Elon Musk episode, How to Save the World with Elon Musk, illustrates the program’s combination of entrepreneurial interviews and global challenges. Its official synopsis lists carbon removal, climate change, population change and future problem-solvers, with a link to the Carbon Removal XPRIZE.⁠[5]

The archive includes interviews with Mo Gawdat, Ray Kurzweil, Emad Mostaque and Eric Schmidt, alongside technology panels involving Salim Ismail, Dave Blundin and Alex Wissner-Gross. Topics include AI, robotics, investing and longevity research. Predictions discussed on the show are distinct from demonstrated technological outcomes.⁠[1]

In his September 12 announcement, Diamandis framed Moonshots LIVE as a gathering for optimistic entrepreneurs, builders and creators. The advertised $1,495 pass covered Friday’s program and the previous evening’s Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is a science-fiction franchise originating in the work of Gene Roddenberry. Its central subjects include exploration aboard starships, encounters across cultures and humanity’s future. It spans television, film, animation and other media, with a long-established fan community.Open the full entry documentary premiere. He also announced 100 application-based, half-price places for entrepreneurs under 28.⁠[6]

The United Theater in Los Angeles hosted the premiere of The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World on September 24. Written and directed by Mark A. Altman and executive-produced by William ShatnerWilliam ShatnerWilliam Shatner is a Canadian actor, author, director and television host best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek. His performance as Denny Crane earned two Emmys and a Golden Globe. He also writes fiction and essays, records music and performs on stage. He founded the Hollywood Charity Horse Show in 1990 and flew on Blue Origin’s NS-18 mission at age 90 in 2021. In 2026, he launched the podcast No Time But Now with his daughter and released Love & Other Mysteries.Open the full entry, the film was followed by a Shatner–Diamandis conversation about Star Trek’s influence. LRM reported on the event on September 28.⁠[7]

The September 25 program combined live podcast recordings, two XPRIZE finals and smaller discussions in Los Angeles. The published running order featured Palmer Luckey, Astro TellerAstro TellerAstro Teller is an entrepreneur, computer science PhD and author who co-founded and leads X as Captain of Moonshots. He previously co-founded BodyMedia and Cerebellum Capital and works on turning ambitious technical research into sustainable businesses.Open the full entry and Ben LammBen LammBen Lamm is a technology entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences. His ventures span digital products, games, conversational AI and biotechnology for species conservation.Open the full entry, plus an agentic-economy panel with Cathie Wood, Emad Mostaque and Circle’s Nikhil Chandhok. Free online coverage was announced, while some in-room sessions were excluded from the broadcast.⁠[8][2]

XPRIZE announced that Jeff Synthesized’s The Gifted won $2.5 million in feature-production equity investment and $100,000 in screenplay-development cash at Moonshots LIVE. Range Media Partners and Google’s 100 ZEROS initiative support development and production. Four other finalists received $100,000 each; The Gifted also won the audience award’s $50,000 first prize. Production investment and cash awards are distinct.⁠[9]

The second competition challenged builders to launch revenue-generating AI businesses in 90 days. Germany’s Lucas Martinic won $500,000 for Polyfork, which sells adjustable 3D models as programs. XPRIZE reported over 26,000 registrations, equal weighting of business viability, AI-native operations and category impact, and $2 million across 25 winning projects. A separate Circle-backed $50,000 Agentic Economy Prize went to Mergegate.⁠[10]

As of October 2026, the podcast remained active. Its distribution page listed episode 300, an Astro Teller interview recorded on September 25, and episode 301, recorded on October 6. Recording dates and subsequent release dates differ, so episode numbering alone does not establish when an event occurred.⁠[4]

The 2026 recap announced a second Moonshots LIVE gathering for early November 2027 in Southern California, expanded to two and a half days. At the October 2026 check, exact dates, venue and the full lineup were still to be announced, with a waitlist open. This remained a future plan.⁠[2]

In a public LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry post, producer Nick Singh described his work on Moonshots and collaboration with its hosts and production team. Another named commentator, Craig Fenton, praised the team while calling for more coverage of technology outside the United States. These individual accounts are not a systematic audience survey.⁠[11][12]

The event’s credits name Google, Circle and XPRIZE as sponsors. Future Vision backers include Salesforce, ARK Invest, Xsolla and SandboxAQ, with Range Media Partners and Google as production partners. Google is the Build with Gemini title sponsor, with Dan MartellDan MartellDan Martell is a Canadian entrepreneur, angel investor, and business coach who founded and sold three software companies: Spheric Technologies, Flowtown, and the mentor advice platform Clarity. He then founded SaaS Academy, a coaching program for software company founders, and is the author of Buy Back Your Time.Open the full entry and Richard Merkin among its major donors. These credits establish event relationships, not the podcast’s ownership structure.⁠[13]

Apple Podcasts identifies the publisher as PHD Ventures. Recent episode descriptions contain promotions for generative-media resources, Blitzy and Fountain Life, and state that hosts’ and guests’ personal views do not constitute financial, medical or legal advice. Advertising claims, guest discussions and event sponsorships are separate kinds of content.⁠[4]